Plan up to 10 long weekends in 2014
Singapore employees will get four long weekends next year, one fewer than this year's, based on next year's public-holiday dates.
But strategic planning of leave and day-off applications can more than double next year's number of long weekends to 10.
This is because there are three public holidays on Thursdays (Labour Day, Deepavali and Christmas Day), one holiday on a Tuesday (Vesak Day), one on a Wednesday (New Year's Day) and one on a Saturday (National Day).
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) yesterday announced the 11 gazetted public holidays for next year. It stated that for public holidays falling on Saturdays, an employee who is not required to work on Saturdays is entitled to claim a day off or compensation in lieu of that public holiday.
This is provided the worker is covered by the Employment Act.
The four long weekends next year cover the public holidays for Chinese New Year, Good Friday, Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji. They are each three days long.
In comparison, the five official long weekends this year include two four-day breaks. Taking leave on the right days will result in nine long weekends this year.
But by taking six days of leave and a day off-in-lieu, the number of long weekends next year becomes 10.
For instance, workers can get five rest days by taking two days' leave on Jan 2 and 3 (Thursday and Friday) as New Year's Day falls on a Wednesday next year.
As National Day falls on a Saturday next year, employees could get a day off-in-lieu. If their employers approve, the day off could be cleared on Aug 8 (Friday) so that they get to enjoy a long weekend.
Workers could extend their three-day long weekend during Chinese New Year to four days by taking a day off-in-lieu on Jan 30. This is because the second day of Chinese New Year is on a Saturday and workers could be given a day off-in-lieu for that.
MOM confirmed that Deepavali this year is no longer on Nov 3 (Sunday), so the following Monday will not be a public holiday.
Instead, Nov 2 (Saturday) will be gazetted as the Deepavali public holiday.
For senior assistant nurse Usha Kumaran, the change in date for Deepavali does not matter much to her, as there is still one day to rest - Sunday - before she goes back to work. She said: "Preparing for Deepavali is a long process, so Hindus like me usually take days off prior to the actual date of celebration."
Tentatively, Deepavali next year will fall on Oct 23 (Thursday). But MOM said it will have to confirm this date against the Indian almanac when it is available.
For Mr Yu Jin, a football-league organiser, the fewer official long weekends is a downer.
He said: "We can't control (which dates) the holidays fall on, but we can take advantage of our leave dates to create more long weekends."
~News courtesy of OMY~
Singapore employees will get four long weekends next year, one fewer than this year's, based on next year's public-holiday dates.
But strategic planning of leave and day-off applications can more than double next year's number of long weekends to 10.
This is because there are three public holidays on Thursdays (Labour Day, Deepavali and Christmas Day), one holiday on a Tuesday (Vesak Day), one on a Wednesday (New Year's Day) and one on a Saturday (National Day).
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) yesterday announced the 11 gazetted public holidays for next year. It stated that for public holidays falling on Saturdays, an employee who is not required to work on Saturdays is entitled to claim a day off or compensation in lieu of that public holiday.
This is provided the worker is covered by the Employment Act.
The four long weekends next year cover the public holidays for Chinese New Year, Good Friday, Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji. They are each three days long.
In comparison, the five official long weekends this year include two four-day breaks. Taking leave on the right days will result in nine long weekends this year.
But by taking six days of leave and a day off-in-lieu, the number of long weekends next year becomes 10.
For instance, workers can get five rest days by taking two days' leave on Jan 2 and 3 (Thursday and Friday) as New Year's Day falls on a Wednesday next year.
As National Day falls on a Saturday next year, employees could get a day off-in-lieu. If their employers approve, the day off could be cleared on Aug 8 (Friday) so that they get to enjoy a long weekend.
Workers could extend their three-day long weekend during Chinese New Year to four days by taking a day off-in-lieu on Jan 30. This is because the second day of Chinese New Year is on a Saturday and workers could be given a day off-in-lieu for that.
MOM confirmed that Deepavali this year is no longer on Nov 3 (Sunday), so the following Monday will not be a public holiday.
Instead, Nov 2 (Saturday) will be gazetted as the Deepavali public holiday.
For senior assistant nurse Usha Kumaran, the change in date for Deepavali does not matter much to her, as there is still one day to rest - Sunday - before she goes back to work. She said: "Preparing for Deepavali is a long process, so Hindus like me usually take days off prior to the actual date of celebration."
Tentatively, Deepavali next year will fall on Oct 23 (Thursday). But MOM said it will have to confirm this date against the Indian almanac when it is available.
For Mr Yu Jin, a football-league organiser, the fewer official long weekends is a downer.
He said: "We can't control (which dates) the holidays fall on, but we can take advantage of our leave dates to create more long weekends."
~News courtesy of OMY~
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